Electroluminescence (EL) was observed in Ga2O3:Eu thin films prepared by using spray pyrolysis of aqueous solutions. The strongest line was associated with the D-5(0) --> F-7(2) electronic transition for Eu3+. The red emission of the films had chromaticity coordinates of x = 0.643 and y = 0.356 with a dominant wavelength of 605 nm and a color purity of 99%. The luminance changed with the crystallinity and a quenching effect occurred. The spray pyrolysis process, which eliminates high vacuum apparatus, may be more attractive from the point of view of large-scale and large-area production of electroluminescent devices. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.